With news of Canada’s first human case of avian flu, or H5N1, you may be wondering about the risk for you and your family. Dr. Samira Mubareka, an infectious disease physician and microbiologist at Sunnybrook, answers some common questions about avian flu.
What exactly is avian flu?
Commonly known as ‘bird flu’, HPAI is found in wild birds and domestic poultry worldwide. It’s very contagious and severe in certain species, including chickens. Since 2022, close to 12 million birds like turkeys and chickens have died or been depopulated to control outbreaks on farms. It has also been transmitted to mammals including cows, bears, foxes, skunks, raccoons and cats.
Do we know how the person in B.C. acquired HPAI?
At this point, we don’t know. HPAI in humans is rare and usually occurs after close contact with infected birds or other infected animals. The Public Health Agency of Canada is working closely with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and local public health and animal health authorities, industry stakeholders and international partners to monitor the situation closely.
Can I still safely eat chicken and turkey, and drink milk?
The reassuring news is that there’s no evidence that eating properly cooked poultry, or eggs, can transmit HPAI to humans. Pasteurized milk and milk products are also safe to consume.
Is there anything else I can do to protect myself and my family?
Avoid touching sick or dead birds and animals and their droppings, limit exposure to poultry farms or bird markets and follow good hand hygiene practices. Health Canada also advises pet owners to ensure their cats or dogs don’t play with dead wildlife.
Is there a vaccine for avian flu?
There are several vaccines at different stages of development and production for both humans and animals, and discussions are ongoing around vaccination programs for different species and populations. For humans, we continue to recommend seasonal influenza vaccination.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
As an infectious disease doctor, I’m urging increased flu surveillance in both humans and wildlife, early detection and vaccine availability. This situation really highlights the interdependence of human and animal health, making systems-wide approaches like One Health, that take both into account, so important.
